Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 18
When David gave way to his lust for Bathsheba and his pride to cover his act through murder, there were some things he had not considered, namely the long term consequences of sin. Sinning against the living God is a more serious matter than we usually think it is and the dark effects of sin are both sure and destructive.
David’s sin had terrible effects that he had not considered in the passions of his heart. First, his sin had an effect on God’s name. “. . . by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme . . .” (2 Sam 12:14).
Second, his sin had an effect on others: Bathsheba, Uriah, Amnon, Tamar, Absalom. God told David of these results when He said, “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife” (2 Sam 12:10).
Third, David’s sin had a long term, destructive effect on himself. In 2 Samuel 18 we see David in utter anguish and sorrow over the death of his son Absalom, 12 years after his sin with Bathsheba. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son! . . . And the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Sam 18:33; 19:4).
Let us take to heart the stern warnings in the Bible concerning sin’s consequences. “He who sows iniquity will reap vanity” (Prov 22:8). “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Gal 6:7).
